$3,700 is penalty for campaign ad with fake name

Former Roanoke city councilman Brian Wishneff has been hit with a $3,700 civil fine for allowing the use of a fake name in a newspaper ad attacking an opponent in his re-election campaign last May.

In addition to the penalty imposed by the State Board of Elections, Wishneff also faces criminal prosecution, reports The Roanoke Times. A hearing is scheduled tomorrow on a motion to dismiss the misdemeanor charges, the paper said.